Breaker point gauge



June 17, 1958 D. H. HASSLER BREAKER POINT GAUGE Filed Sept. 1, 1955 Fig. 5 I

David H. Hass/er IN VEN TOR.

Fig.3

POINT GAUGE David H. Hassler, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii Application September 1, 1955, Serial No, 531,984 Claims. (Cl. 33-181 This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in ignition tools, and more specifically to a breaker point gauge.

In the setting of the point gap of the breaker points of a distributor, it is necessary that the cam follower of the movable breaker point arm be set directly on the point ,of one of the lobes of the cam. Then, it is necessary to properly adjustthe fixed breaker point in order to. obtain the desired gap. This requires careful'manipulation, and in. many instances, an improper setting of the points due to the fact that the lobe of the cam does not stay properly engaged with the cam follower. Further, it requires the proper use of a feeler gauge in a relatively confined place.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved breaker point gauge which is so constructed whereby the breaker point gap may be set While the cam is in a position other than the. breaker point opening position, with the gauge being of such a nature'whereby once. the movable breaker point is set utilizing the gauge, measurement is not required.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved breaker point gauge which is so constructed whereby it will slide directly over a distributor cam and which has portions thereof so. calibratedjwhereby when a w ri n a ed th hose por ons i the fixed breaker point is moved into engagement with the movable breaker point, the desired breaker point gap is set. K p

7' A further object of this invention is to provide an improved breaker point gauge in which there is incorporated gauge tapes for" both the, setting of the breaker point gap in' cases whereinthe cam follower is directly on the point of one of the lobes of the cam and for checking the breaker point gap of distributors.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improvedbreakerpoint 'gauge' which is so constructed whereby it maybe utilized in the setting' of the breaker point gap, and-at'the sametime, the set breaker point gap can be checked with the gauge in use. These together with other objects and advantageswhich willbecome' subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fullyhereinafter, described and claimed, reference being had to the ac},

companying' drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which? j o Figure 1 is a topplan view of a conventional type of distributor with the cap rotor thereof removed and the breaker point gauge, which is the subject of this invention, mounted on the cam from which therotor has been removed.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional, view taken.

substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2 -2.. or Figurev 1 and shows the. general. relationship of'the gauge in conjunction with. the cam and the breaker point. cam follewer;

2,838,842 Patented June 17, 1958 ICC Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of they gauge removed from the distributor;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the gauge and shows further the details thereof;

' Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 3 and shows the specific details of the construction of the breaker point gauge;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional horizontal view taken through an intermediate portion of the gauge;

Figure 7 is a top perspective view of a modified form of gauge which includes upstanding tape gauges which may be utilized when the cam follower is directly on the point of one of the lobes of the cam;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Figure 6 with the lower plate of the gauge omitted for purposes of clarity; and

Figure 9 is the top plan view of still another modified form of breaker point gauge of which all the wall parts have outer surfaces of the same radius of curvature as the path of the projecting lobes of the cam for which the gauge is intended.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the breaker point gauge, which is'the subject of this invention, the breaker point gauge for a six cylinder engine and accordingly, the plates 12 and 14 are of a hexagonal outline. The plates 12 and 14' have hexagonal openings 16 therethrough of a size to receive a distributor cam for which the gauge 10 is intended, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. It will be readily apparent that the gauge 10 is in the form of a hollow body whose upper and lower portions are formed by the plates 12 and 14- and whose intermediate portion is formed by vertical wall parts 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 which extend between and are connected to the plates 12 and 14. The inner surfaces of these vertical wall parts are coplanar with the inner surfaces of the openings '16 in the plates 12 and 14 and form. generally the inner surface of the body. to be noted that the outer surfaces of the vertical wall parts are of constant curvature with the center of the gauge at the center of curvature and the various wall parts having outer surfaces of different radii. The wall parts 18,, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28, because of their configuration, maybe considered projections disposed bethe wall part 28 will have an outer surface of the same radius of, curvature as the path of the projecting lobes of the cam for which the gauge 10 is intended.

The wall parts 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are of lesser radii than the Wall part 28. The radii of the Wall parts 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are different, and the differences between the radius of the wall part 28 and the radii of the wall parts 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 will be equal to the various, desired gap settings permissible with the gauge 10.

Referring now to Figure l in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a conventional type of. distributor which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 30. The distributor 30 includes a body 32 through which there penetrates for rotation a shaft 34.

The upper portion of the shaft 3'4 is in the form. of a.

3 der of the internal combustion engine for which the distributor 30 is intended.

Carried by the distributor body 32 is a breaker point mounting plate 40 which pivots about a fastener 42and is retained in an adjusted position by a fastener 44. The mounting plate 40 includes a fixed breaker point 46.

Pivotally attached to the breaker point mounting plate 40 by means of a pivot pin 48 is a movable breaker point arm 59 carrying a movable breaker point 52. The movable breaker point arm 50 is urged towards the cam 46 by means of a spring 54 and is provided with a cam follower 56.

In the normal operation of the distributor 30, the cam follower 56 engages the cam 36 and between the lobes 38 permits the arm 50 to move inwardly towards the center of the cam so that the points 52 and 46 engage each other in what is considered a closed position. However, as the cam follower 56 rides up on one of the lobes 38, the arm 56 will be urged away from the cam 36 with the result that the movable breaker point 52 will move away from the point 46, thereby opening the breaker points. When the cam follower 56 is engaged on the highest point of the lobe 38, the movable point 52 should be spaced from the fixed point 46 a predetermined distance. It is this distance which is taken into consideration in the design of the gauge 10.

In the use of the gauge 18, the cap and rotor (not shown) of the distributor 38 are removed and the gauge placed over the cam 36. 'Then, by utilizing the desired one of the body parts 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 in accordance with the manufacturers specification, the mounting plate 48 is positioned on the distributor body 32. This is accomplished by positioning a particular body part so as to be engaged by the cam follower 56. This positions the movable breaker point 52. Then, the fasteners 42 and 44 are released, and the mounting plate 40 pivoted so that the fixed point 46 comes into contact with the movable point 52 and at the same time, the cam follower 56 engages the particular one of the body parts 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26. The fasteners 44 and 42 are then tightened, and the proper gap between the points 46 and 52 is set. Inasmuch as the body part 28 is of the same radius as the points of the lobes 38, this gap may be checked by rotating the gauge 10 so that the cam follower 56 engages the body part 28. Then, an ordinary feeler gauge may be inserted between the points 46 and 52 in order to check the accuracy of the setting. However, inasmuch as the gauge 10 is designed to eliminate the use of the feeler gauge, this step is unnecessary.

It is to be noted that inasmuch as the inner surfaces of the body parts 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 are disposed coplanar with the flat portions of the cam 36 and since the projecting portions of these body parts are of a-lesser distance or equal distance from the center of the cam 36 when the gauge 10 is positioned thereon than the distance from the center of the cam to the points of the lobes 38, there will be a space between the adjoining ones of the body parts. The points of the cam lobes 38 will project through these spaces.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described as including upper and lower plates 12 and 14, it is to be understood that the plate 14 could be dispensed with. However, it does serve both to reinforce the lower ends of the downwardly projecting body parts and also to center the gauge 10 on the cam 36. Further, if desired, the plate 12 need not have an opening, such as the opening 16, through which the cam 36 may pass. If desired, the plate 12 could rest on the upper surface of the cam 36 and need be provided with an opening only of a size to receive the upward projecting portion of the shaft 34 on which the rotor (not shown) is mounted.

Referring now to Figure 7 in particular, it Will be seen that there is illustrated a modified form of the gauge 10,

the modified gauge being referred to in general by the reference number 58. The gauge 58 differs from gauge 10 only by the addition of circumferentially spaced tape gauges 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 projecting upwardly from the top of plate 12.

When the cam follower is directly on the point of one of the lobes of the cam, the gauge 10 cannot be utilized in conjunction therewith in the manner described above with respect to the cam 36, as the purpose of gauge 10 or the modified gauge 78, is to compensate for the cam follower not being in this position. Accordingly, when this position of the cam follower occurs, it is necessary only that the breaker points be set. And, for this purpose, the tape gauges 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70, calibrated to manufacturers specifications, are utilized. These tape gauges may also be used in routine checking of the gaps between points of all distributors.

Referring now'to Figure 9 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a second modified form of the gauge 10. This modified form of gauge is referred to in general by the reference numeral 78 and differs from the gauge 18 only in that all the wall parts have outer surfaces of the same radius of curvature as the path of the projecting lobes of the cam for which the gauge is intended. Accordingly, the modified gauge will be used only to compensate for the cam follower not being directly on the point of the lobes of the cam. When soused, the breaker point gap may be easily checked and set by means of tape gauges. The branches of the modified gauge 78 lies primarily in the simplified form of construction.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A breaker point gauge for setting breaker points on a distributor, said gauge comprising a hollow body of a size to be snugly received over a distributor cam, said body having a polygonal inner surface including a plurality of corners, at least one projection on said body, said body having a center, the distance between said corners and said center being greater than the distance 7 between an outermost part of said projection and said center, the'diflerence between said distances determining outermost part of said projection and said center, the difference between said distances determining the desired point gap, other projections on the outer surfaces of said body, said other projections each being of a constant curvature about said center and having a radius of a length less than said distance between said corners and said center and greater than the perpendicular distance from said center to a side of said polygonal inner surface, said radii being difierent from each other and from said second mentioned distance.

3. A breaker point gauge for setting breakerpoints on a distributor, said gauge comprising a hollow body of a size to be snugly received over a distributor cam, said body having a polygonal inner surface including a plurality of corners, at least one, projection on said body, said body having a center, the distance between said corners and said center being greater than the distance between an outermost part of said projection and said center, the difference between said distances determining the desired point gap, said projection being of constant curvature with said center as a center of curvature.

4. A breaker point gauge for setting breaker points on a distributor, said gauge comprising a hollow body of a size to be snugly received over a distributor cam, said body having a polygonal inner surface including a plurality of corners, a first projection on said body, said body having a center, the distance between said corners and said center being greater than the distance between an outermost part of said projection and said center, the difference between said distances determining the desired point gap, said projection being of constant curvature with said center as a center of curvature, other projections on the outer surfaces of said body, each of said other projections being of a constant curvature about said center and having a radius of a length less than said distance between said corners and said center and greater than the perpendicular distance from said center to a side of said polygonal inner surface, said radii being difierent from each other and from said second mentioned distance.

5. A breaker point gauge for setting breaker points on a distributor, said gauge comprising a hollow body of a size to be snugly received over a distributor cam, said body having a polygonal inner surface including a plurality of corners, a plurality of projections on the outer surface of said body, said body having a center, the distance between said corners and said center being greater than the distances between outermost parts of said projections and said center, the differences between the first mentioned distances and the second mentioned distances determining the desired point gaps.

6. A breaker point gauge for setting breaker points on a distributor, said gauge comprising a hollow body of a size to be snugly received over a distributor cam, said body having a polygonal inner surface including a plurality of corners, a plurality of projections on the outer surface of said body, said body having a center, the distance between said corners and said center being greater than the distances between outermost parts of said projections and said center, the differences between the first mentioned distances and the second mentioned distances determining the desired point gaps, said body including an upper plate, said projections depending from said plate and having inner surfaces forming a part of said polygonal inner surface.

7. A breaker point gauge for setting breaker points on a distributor, said gauge comprising a hollow body of a size to be snugly received over a distributor cam, said body having a polygonal inner surface inclding a plurality of corners, a plurality of projections on the outer surface of said body, said body having a center, the disstance between said corners and said center being greater than the distances between outermost parts of said projections and said center, the dilferences between the first mentioned distances and the second mentioned distances determining the desired point gaps, said body including an upper plate, said projections depending from said plate and having inner surfaces forming a part of said polygonal inner surface, a lower plate secured to lower ends of said projections and reinforcing the same.

8. A breaker point gauge for setting breaker points on a distributor, said gauge comprising a hollow body of a size to be snugly received over a distributor cam, said body having a polygonal inner surface including a plurality of corners, at least one projection on said body, said body having a center, the distance between said corners and said center being greater than the distance between an outermost part of said projection and said center, the difference between said distances determining the desired point gap, tape gauges extending upwardly from said body for directly setting and checking point gaps.

9. A breaker point gauge for setting breaker points on a distributor, said gauge comprising a hollow body of a size to be snugly received over a distributor cam, said body having a polygonal inner surface including a plurality of corners, a plurality of projections on the outer surface of said body, said body having a center, the said projections on the outer surfaces of said body being of constant curvature with said center as a center of curvature, said projections each being of a radius equal to the distance between said corners and said center. 1

10. A breaker point gauge for setting breaker points on a distributor, said gauge comprising a hollow body of a size to be snugly received over a distributor cam, said body having a polygonal inner surface including a plurality of corners, at least one projection on said body, said body having a center, said projection being of a constant curvature with said center of said body as a center of curvature, the radius of said projection being greater than the perpendicular distance from said center to a side of said polygonal inner surface and of a maximum length no greater than the distance between said corners and said center.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,453,774 Basista Nov. 16, 1948 

